“Yvonnick Prene is skilled and talented without a doubt but there is a depth to him that calls to the depths within the listener. It is no wonder that he is in such demand.” JazzTimes
“Virtuoso Harmonica Player” Down Beat
“The most beautiful music I have ever heard on harmonica.” Lee Konitz
“A rising star” Dan Bilansky, All About Jazz
SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Yvonnick Prené is a professional jazz musician, bandleader, composer, and educator based in the greater New York City area. He is one of the most unique and innovative harmonicists on the scene today.
Prené has recorded six acclaimed albums as a leader, including Jour de Fete (2013), Wonderful World (2014), Breathe (2015), and New York Moments (2019). He also wrote a composition titled "Mr. Tixier" featured on Scott Tixier’s album Cosmic Adventures on Sunnyside Records. His latest recording, the Jeremy Pelt-produced LISTEN!, was released on Sunnyside, featuring new original compositions and arrangements for his quintet.
Prené has performed and/or recorded with guitarists Peter Bernstein, Steve Cardenas and Pasquale Grasso, pianists Kevin Hays and Jon Cowherd, saxophonist Dayna Stephens, and drummer Bill Stewart, among others.
He has performed around the world, notably at Winter Jazz Fest (NYC), Bern Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Festival Emoi du Jazz (Ivory Coast), Lamentin Jazz Festival (Martinique), SPAH Harmonica Fest (Tulsa), Hyde Park Jazz Festival (Chicago) and Jazz Sur Seine Festival (Paris).
Prené performs more than 100 concerts per year, having performed at major jazz clubs in New York City as sideman or leader — including the Blue Note, the Django, Zinc Bar, The Iridium, Dizzy’s Club, Birdland, The Jazz Gallery and Smalls.
The harmonicist is a revered educator and the founder of the New Harmonica School and My Harmonica Studio. and to date, Yvonnick has taught more than 500 students. Additionally, Prené has written 10 methods about jazz improvisation, jazz etudes and blues harmonica. He also taught at Jazz House Kids, New York Jazz Workshop and Brooklyn Music School.
Additionally, Prené is an ambassador for Hohner; the legendary harmonica brand has chosen Prené to be the face of their brand-new, flagship 12-hole chromatic harmonica called Xpression.
Yvonnick grew up in Massy, a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris. He has earned a Bachelor of Music (2007) and a Masters of Music degree from Sorbonne University (2011) and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music (2012).
He has had the opportunity to study with Lee Konitz, Charli Persip, Charles Tolliver, and Reggie Workman, among other leading lights of the music.
QUOTES
"When Prene plays the harmonica, it becomes a fully articulate vehicle for authentic emotional expression."
JazzTimes Magazine
"With the strong program Prené has put together, Listen! truly lights up a room."
New York City Jazz Record
"His sound is highly reminiscent of Thielemans, although Yvonnick’s approach is more modern, bebop and post-bop than Toots’ swing-based style."
Hot House
“Yvonnick Prene is skilled and talented without a doubt but there is a depth to him that calls to the depths within the listener. It is no wonder that he is in such demand.” JazzTimes
“Virtuoso Harmonica Player” Down Beat
“The most beautiful music I have ever heard on harmonica.” Lee Konitz
“A rising star” All About Jazz